BCGEU members ratify contract with government

Vancouver (06 Nov. 2012) - Members of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) have ratified the tentative Master Agreement, which was concluded September 27 after a marathon bargaining session.

The two-year deal expires March 31, 2014. More than 25,000 BCGEU/NUPGE members work for the B.C. government.

The agreement contains a wage increase of four per cent over the life of the contract and other gains. They include:

the memorandum on employment security renewed;

vehicle and meal allowance increased; and

the request for proposals (RFPs) to privatize liquor distribution withdrawn.

"This agreement represents real improvements for members,” said BCGEU President Darryl Walker. "We thank them for ratifying the agreement and supporting the bargaining committee through many months of difficult negotiations and rotating job action.”

Still, Walker said, the union remains frustrated that the issue of professional fees wasn’t settled to the union’s satisfaction.

“We are concerned about the government’s stated position it could only reimburse our members up to the 2009 schedule for professional fees. Last week, we learned the government agreed to pay the 2011-12 fees rate to another public service union. This difference will cost our members hundreds of dollars in fees annually. This deceit doesn’t bode well for a cooperative working relationship with government,” said Walker.

Component agreements covering specific occupational group provisions were also ratified.

The master and component agreements can be found on the union's website here.

BCGEU/NUPGE members in community social services, health facilities, community health, health sciences and post secondary education are still trying to conclude agreements with their employer groups.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE